New system; lots of questions and need some opinions!
11-08-2009, 12:22 PM
#1
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 4
New system; lots of questions and need some opinions!
I have a 1998 Dodge Dakota SLT ext cab. I'm very very limited for space. But we'll get to that later.
All 4 of my stock infinity speakers are blown, and sound like complete garbage. I have 2x 6.5" speakers with a tweeter in the front, and 2x 5.25" speakers in the rear. As my budget is limited, and I know that quality and cheap dont go together when it comes to car audio, I need to find a good balance between the both. I think around $750 (off of ebay) would be my maximum price for a sub, amp, speakers, head unit. Im going to school soon, dont have a lot to throw around.
Here are the options I've put infront of myself:
1.) All around alpine type r/infinity kappa speakers, component in the front, coaxil in the rear; dont really care about the head unit as long as its ipod ready as my speakers will be ampd. If I amp my speakers, I wont be able to afford a sub + amp for a few months.
2.) A good head unit putting out decent 4x?? RMS (are there any head units that put out 4x40+rms?) put in some average speakers, say infinity reference, power them through the head unit then get a sub/amp.
3.) Get an average IPOD ready headunit, a 5 way amp, 4 type rs/kappas, + a mediocre sub (10" type r) for the rear.
4.) If its possible and worth it...Run the front 2 speakers off of an amp, and use the remaining 2 channels for a sub. Then power the rear speakers off of the head unit.
Now I know a lot of people dont like the 5 way amps, but im very very tight for space in the truck. I might be able to fit ONE amp under the rear seats, but the sub will have to sit in a box behind the drivers seat. It is a truck that I use recreationally, so I dont want to mount the amps under the driver or passenger seat due to moisture, dirt, mud, snow, etc etc etc.
Would I be better off to get the 4 kappas/type rs and an alright head unit and just wait a few months for bass? Do these speakers put out decent bass? I know they wont pump like a sub, but whats the quality of both brands of speakers like?
I think I may have to go with the 5 way amp because its very hard to place an amp anywhere without sacrificing a seat, the risk of water reaching it, or putting it in a place where someone can open the door and walk away with it. Also, what guage of wire will I have to run to power speakers rated at 90-110rms? Im assuming the stock wires won't allow enough current.
I think thats all the questions I have for now, I probably forgot a few things. I'm open to suggestions and different types of systems/speaker and amp combinations, as 90% of you are probably more experienced than myself when it comes to car audio.
All 4 of my stock infinity speakers are blown, and sound like complete garbage. I have 2x 6.5" speakers with a tweeter in the front, and 2x 5.25" speakers in the rear. As my budget is limited, and I know that quality and cheap dont go together when it comes to car audio, I need to find a good balance between the both. I think around $750 (off of ebay) would be my maximum price for a sub, amp, speakers, head unit. Im going to school soon, dont have a lot to throw around.
Here are the options I've put infront of myself:
1.) All around alpine type r/infinity kappa speakers, component in the front, coaxil in the rear; dont really care about the head unit as long as its ipod ready as my speakers will be ampd. If I amp my speakers, I wont be able to afford a sub + amp for a few months.
2.) A good head unit putting out decent 4x?? RMS (are there any head units that put out 4x40+rms?) put in some average speakers, say infinity reference, power them through the head unit then get a sub/amp.
3.) Get an average IPOD ready headunit, a 5 way amp, 4 type rs/kappas, + a mediocre sub (10" type r) for the rear.
4.) If its possible and worth it...Run the front 2 speakers off of an amp, and use the remaining 2 channels for a sub. Then power the rear speakers off of the head unit.
Now I know a lot of people dont like the 5 way amps, but im very very tight for space in the truck. I might be able to fit ONE amp under the rear seats, but the sub will have to sit in a box behind the drivers seat. It is a truck that I use recreationally, so I dont want to mount the amps under the driver or passenger seat due to moisture, dirt, mud, snow, etc etc etc.
Would I be better off to get the 4 kappas/type rs and an alright head unit and just wait a few months for bass? Do these speakers put out decent bass? I know they wont pump like a sub, but whats the quality of both brands of speakers like?
I think I may have to go with the 5 way amp because its very hard to place an amp anywhere without sacrificing a seat, the risk of water reaching it, or putting it in a place where someone can open the door and walk away with it. Also, what guage of wire will I have to run to power speakers rated at 90-110rms? Im assuming the stock wires won't allow enough current.
I think thats all the questions I have for now, I probably forgot a few things. I'm open to suggestions and different types of systems/speaker and amp combinations, as 90% of you are probably more experienced than myself when it comes to car audio.
Last edited by Jdb107; 11-08-2009 at 12:26 PM.
11-08-2009, 02:06 PM
#2
Eliminate E-bay and don't try to stretch your budget to do everything all at once. Buy the right equipment and then expand on it as your money allows. The sub is the most expensive part of the equation, leave it out for now if you must. Start with a headunit that has bluetooth built in (as it will be law here in January - $164.00 fine + 3 points is money that you can spend on your system in the future). Get a set of basic component speakers for the front and a coax for a rear. Call it quits right there for now of if the right choice of those 3 are done now, perhaps a 4 channel amp can be squeezed into the budget to power the front speakers and a future sub.
11-08-2009, 03:26 PM
#3
Administrator
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 16,855
One of my very favourite trucks for sure! I was putting a killer system into my brothers back in the day until he met his future wife and she killed the project. 
I agree with Rob - pick up a decent bluetooth deck, a set of front components, maybe some rear coaxials, and for sub I would look for an MTX thunderform. They fit great and work well in those trucks.
I agree with Rob - pick up a decent bluetooth deck, a set of front components, maybe some rear coaxials, and for sub I would look for an MTX thunderform. They fit great and work well in those trucks.
11-08-2009, 06:03 PM
#4
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 4
Thanks for some of the advice. Would it sound wierd if I had 90 RMS Infinity Kappas in the front, amped with an amped sub in the back, and just let the rear speakers run off of the head unit? On a 4x25RMS head unit, can I bridge it and run 2 speakers at 50 RMS? So many questions and different combinations and possibilities when it comes to car audio. Spent hours and hours and hours reading and researching and its hard to make my mind up
@MR2NR- originally I didnt want to go through ebay, but visions/best buy etc etc want 350+ for infinity kappa components, on ebay in a box brand new they're $130. I went into visions asking how much it would cost for a head unit, 2 type r component speakers, 2 coax speakers + 10" type X, an alpine mrpf600 4 channel and a alpine mrpm1000 mono amp- they quoted me $3300 before tax. I can get it all for $850 brand new including the wiring on ebay.
@MR2NR- originally I didnt want to go through ebay, but visions/best buy etc etc want 350+ for infinity kappa components, on ebay in a box brand new they're $130. I went into visions asking how much it would cost for a head unit, 2 type r component speakers, 2 coax speakers + 10" type X, an alpine mrpf600 4 channel and a alpine mrpm1000 mono amp- they quoted me $3300 before tax. I can get it all for $850 brand new including the wiring on ebay.
11-08-2009, 10:11 PM
#7
check the classifieds section on here..could get your hands on some 4ch amp wireing and stuff for a much lower cost. if i could i would sell u my good old trusty kenwood 4ch for 30$ but its still in use till i go active lol... but trust me check on there and u will see that u could find some decent stuff.. just watch for speakers.... just check for the amps tho.
11-09-2009, 02:53 PM
#8
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 16,855
Would it sound wierd if I had 90 RMS Infinity Kappas in the front, amped with an amped sub in the back, and just let the rear speakers run off of the head unit? On a 4x25RMS head unit, can I bridge it and run 2 speakers at 50 RMS?
Most (I would say all but somewhere there might be one) decks don't allow bridging of the built in speaker leads.
11-09-2009, 03:05 PM
#9
